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Price range: $215,000 to $265,000Age of homes: 15 yearsSchools: Hanover Countryside Elementary, Canton Middle and Streamwood High schools in Elgin Area School District U-46 Parks: Streamwood Park District

"These homes are the perfect size -- not huge mansions and not too small. They're nice move-up homes with three to four bedrooms and 2½ to 3½ baths," said Beverley Caliendo, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

"Many homes have volume ceilings, master suites and two-car garages. Some have a fireplace and walkout or English basement.

"People like that it's a newer community with nice winding streets and that it backs up to the high school. It's really nice that kids are able to walk to school."

Many people like Streamwood because it's less expensive than Bartlett or Schaumburg, yet you can get a good-sized house with all the amenities in a nice neighborhood, she said.

Development at the intersection of Route 59 and Irving Park Road in recent years has created a major retail sector with Sutton Park Shopping Center and more stores and newer restaurants along the Route 59 shopping corridor. Residents can also head to The Arboretum in South Barrington for more shopping.

Convenient shopping is a big deal for Ratnesh and Mala Jha, who have lived with their two children in Emerald Hills for five years.

"We like all the shopping -- Target, Sears Centre, all the big stores. Everything is within five miles, and the area is not as crowded as Schaumburg," Ratnesh Jha said.

"The subdivision is calm and peaceful because it's a nice residential area with no industry around."

The friendly neighborhood is also a plus for the family. "There are places where people live for 10 years and don't know who lives next door to them," Jha said. "It's not like that here; it's very friendly, and people know their neighbors. Most are educated people who work in IT (information technology) or have their own business."

The homeowners association takes care of the winter cleaning and does a lot of things for a lower cost than many other places, Jha said.

For recreation, the village's award-winning park district offers many recreation centers and parks. Park Place features an indoor water park, fitness center, day care, gym, running track and meeting rooms.

Emerald Hills backs up to the Poplar Creek Forest Preserve with miles of biking and walking trails within easy reach.

And the nearby Hoosier Grove Park hosts many sporting events and offers baseball and soccer fields, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and a large playground.

Hoosier Grove is also home to the Streamwood Heritage Museum, which was originally a one-room schoolhouse in the corner of a cow pasture at Schunemann's dairy farm in the early 1900s. The museum offers various events and educational opportunities.

Golfers can indulge in their sport at nearby Streamwood Oaks Golf Course, which is owned by the village, while gardeners might enjoy the Tri-Village Garden Club that beautifies communities with landscaping projects.

The subdivision offers easy access to expressways, and commuters can board the Metra in Bartlett.

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